Method and apparatus for contextual based search engine and enterprise knowledge management

Abstract

The system provides a system for monitoring a plurality of communications mediums on a network such as the Internet or an enterprise intranet and for providing context based supplemental information based on the conversation. The supplemental information is presented in one embodiment in the form of a matching media object (MMO) and can be easily shared between users of the system, either concurrently or on a time delayed basis (i.e. the next time a user logs onto the system). The system provides a communications tool that facilitates chats, blogs, discussions, or any type of social media for a plurality of users. Conversations on the tool are parsed to determine an area of interest to the users and appropriate MMOs are provided based on that context.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A method for providing contextual information to a user of a communication system comprising, in a processing system:
 parsing a conversation between a user and a participant in the communication system; 
 determining whether the user is in a an awareness stage of a buying cycle, a consideration stage of the buying cycle, a decision stage of the buying cycle or a purchasing stage of the buying cycle; 
 identifying an appropriate matching search result based on the conversation and the stage of the buying cycle that the user is in; and 
 displaying the search result to the user, wherein 
 if the user is in the awareness stage, the search result is selected from a group comprising articles, press releases, product categories, directions and search engines; 
 if the user is in the consideration stage, the search result is selected from a group comprising review sites, product comparisons, third party reviews, price, warranty and peer reviews; 
 if the user is in the decision stage, the search result is selected from a group comprising merchant sites, review sites, brand specific research, detailed features and case studies; and 
 if the user is in the purchasing stage, the search result is selected from a group comprising price, warranty, delivery schedule, service and shipping information. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the search result is a matching media object (MMO).